Three Foundations for Summer
In summer I tend to wear less foundation, base makeup than usual. When it comes to texture and formulation I rather go for long-lasting, non drying and I always sheer them out. Most of the time I conceal my redness, even out some imperfections. I already wrote a bit about my preferences here, this applies to any season (including carefully selected skincare products, which is more important to me than makeup).
Guerlain Tenue de Perfection #01 Beige Pâle – runs a bit darker than Parure de Lumière (review). I haven’t experienced any oxidation. This foundation belongs to my HGs I can say, even though it is a rather new addition to their line. I always get lots of compliments on my skin while wearing Tenue de Perfection. It is unbelievable how natural the finish is and how forgiving it is on uneven skin texture. It doesn’t feel heavy once applied, last a whole day on my dry skin. Coverage goes from sheer to medium. It sets satin on me, I tend to use my Guerlain Meteorites with this foundation a lot, the best finish ever. It also photographs beautifully. I also like the scent a lot, which is typical for a lot of Guerlain products. Tenue de Perfection is by far one of my favourite foundations I own.
Nanoce BB Cream #01 – my favourite BB Cream (and I am not into those whole BB, CC, DD whatever creams at all). On my lazy days, when I just need a bit of concealing, I use this. The coverage is sheer to medium, it does a very good job on covering my redness on my cheeks and around my nose. The finish is rather satin on me than matte. It doesn’t feel heavy, like a lot of BB creams do (at least I find). It is scented but not overpowering.
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX-01 – my holy grail multi purpose product. I never use it as a full coverage foundation, you need a tiny bit of product and it goes a long way, as the texture feels very thick. I warm it up in my hands and press/work it into my skin, the finish is matte on me but never dull. When I have major redness on my cheeks and around my nose, forehead, I use KA SSE. It is too drying to use under my eyes and it may accentuate dry patches (I always use my RMS Beauty lip&skin balm on my dry patches or Weleda Skin Food, problem solved). SX-01 is one of closest matches for my skintone and I don’t have to mix. It contains mineral oil and is scented.
Guerlain Tenue de Perfection, Nanoce BB Cream, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer
Without fake tan I am about N10. Both, Guerlain Tenue de Perfection and Nanoce BB Cream match my fake tanned N15 skintone very well though. Otherwise I just mix those two (or any foundation that is too dark for me) with either MAC face and body white or my beloved Rouge Bunny Rouge highlighter. I like using powder on top of my base products, even though I have dry skin. I feel like the result is even more refined and airbrushed. My favourite powder is Kanebo Sensai Loose and Guerlain Meteorites (also my HGs).
What’s maybe important to say, I don’t like sheer foundations that much. Not because I don’t like sheer coverage but for me, the finish is much nicer when I sheer out a medium coverage foundation, I never wear a medium or full coverage foundation medium-full … never. No matter if it is winter or summer. Therefore those foundations above look sheer on me once applied, I use them to even out some imperfections, make my skin look better.
I love Guerlain’s Lingeried De peau all year around! Need to try your picks!
Hi Divya, I like LdP as well but it oxidises a lot on me sadly. I wish the shades would be lighter because I am a huge guerlain fan xxx
Oh, you got me so interested in the Guerlain foundation. The texture and finish sounds very ideal to me. I haven’t been so lucky with the color selections from the brand, but I will definitely try to find a match. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Lena, I really like this foundation, tbh, most of the time if I am wearing a foundation it is this one. love it so much, everything is so perfect. I agree, the colour range is sometimes really off. xxx
Great picks, Claire! I have Tenue de Perfection and I like it a lot! In summer I go for something lighter though, like Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet! It’s probably not for those with drier skin though!
Hi Sunny, it seems to be pretty popluar to go for lighter textures in summer instead of working with fuller coverage foundations and sheer them out. I find the magic happens there at least for me, haha. Heard a lot about the chanel perfection lumiere velvet but I couldn’t see anything special and the shades are too dark as well (mixing a sheer foundation totally is useless, not much left of the original formula). xxx
I wear less base makeup in the summer, too, although lately my skin hasn’t been too nice, so then I have to cover up a little more…which in turn, I think, keeps it not as nice… 😛 *flails* I’ve been liking Origins’ CC cream a lot, lately, though, and powder foundation.
Hi Larie, I am so thankfull that I am not breaking out that much, maybe once or twice a year but I totally get your point. I don’t have a HG powder foundation, I think. Have to take a look at my stash 😉 xxx
YUP, that’s it I NEED the Guerlain one now haha! I love Lingerie de Peau, but it’s too heavy for summer. This sounds exactly like what I need for summer!
Hi Tracy, I like TdP way more than LdP. The finish is just nicer, more natural, just perfect on me. If you feel that TdP is too heavy as well, try to sheer it out with a damp BB, the most beautiful finish ever xxx
I also want to try the Guerlain, but I think we have opposite skins. But I have some texturization issues, so I want to check it out.
Hi Liz, just take good care of some flakes if you have them before using TdP. I guess it won’t be as matte looking on you than on me then. I really love this foundation xxx
Lovely picks! I really wanted to love Guerlain Tenue de Perfection but unfortunately it oxidises on me. I guess it might be my oily skin? I’m so envious of your pretty npale skin btw, it’s gorgeous! My summer foundations are GA Maestro, EL DW Light or the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet. They are pretty great with my oily skin ^^. Also loving seeing you blogging again! *hugs*
Hi Teri ❤ My mum has oily skin and a lot of foundations oxidise on her that on me won't. the chanel perfection lumiere velvet seems to get a lot of love I see, haha. It's great to see what works for different skintypes. I have to rec my mum the chanel one I think she will like it then. thank you teri :*****
I’ve been playing around with Guerlain foundations and I adore the finish and coverage! Definitely plan on investing in one soon! thanks for the informative post!
Hi, thank you for visiting 🙂 I adore Guerlain for many reasons, their foundations work really well for me and I am so glad, love the finish so much! xxx
Ooh, Kevin Aucoin SSE. I’ve been lusting after this one for ages (probably years, by now!), but I still haven’t managed to find it in person — and I’m way too chicken to order foundations sight-unseen. I feel like I’m always WAY off on the shade >.<
Hi Rae, KA SSE is great but if you are sensitive to mineral oil I would skip, it’s the first ingredient. I totally understand, ordering foundations online can be so tricky sometimes. xxx
KA SSE FTW!!! Love that stuff.
Hi Laura! IKR? KA SSE is just awesome xxx
The Sensual Skin Enhancer is my ULTIMATE foundation – since I can tailor fit it to any kind of coverage I want. I had to let go of mine though because shade I got it in was just way off. I’m hoping to buy it in counter soon so I can swatch and see what shade suits me best because there is no way in hell I’ll be finishing a tub of that in this lifetime :))
Hi Shari, I actually prefer foundations that offer more coverage, I never use them as full coverage foundations though, I find that sheered out they work better than sheer coverage foundations, for me. I don’t like cake face, whatsoever. KA SSE is so emolient and I used it a lot, still have tons and tons left. This stuff is amazing xxx
I love Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer. I thought I won’t like it in the summer because it’s a cream product. But I use it in the manner that you do too. I sheer it out. It gives the most skin-like finish.
Hi Rae, thank you for visiting and commenting 🙂 I know a lot of people struggle with the KA SSE but I think with the right technique it can look natural and not cakey. Glad you like it as well xxx
I use it the same way you do. I sheer it out. I think I haven’t used it as a full-coverage foundation yet.
Hmm question, would you be able to mix the Guerlain or any of these with a moisturizer for less of a coverage effect?
definitely! the guerlain foundations mix really well with basic moisturizers, the KA SSE is very, very thick and personally, I don’t like the finish that much when mixed with moisturizer. but as for me, I don’t like doing it, because moisturizers mess up with the beautiful guerlain texture. I’d rather use a damp beauty blender and sheer it out that way. xxx
I’ll keep it in mind. I just wanted to sheer it out should it be too heavy coverage, I barely need any.
I don’t like heavy coverage on my face as well, and I don’t think that I need that much. I like medium-full coverage foundations way more though and sheer them out, gives me a far more natural look and tbh, no one in real life can tell that I am wearing foundation, that’s the magic guerlain provides, that’s why I love this brand, haha xxx